The Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud on Monday questioned the Centre on the Manipur viral video, in which two women were allegedly sexually assaulted and paraded naked by a mob, asking why the FIR in the case was registered on May 18 when the incident happened on May 4.
“What were the police doing from May 4 to May 18? The incident came to light that women are being paraded naked and at least two were raped. What were the police doing?” the Supreme Court asked the Central government.
However, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said that government has nothing to hide. “This court can monitor the situation. Something coming from here or there will be hazardous,” CJI added.
A 26-second video from Manipur has triggered outrage in the whole country where two women were stripped naked, assaulted and paraded by a mob. The incident allegedly took place on May 4, a day after ethnic clashes broke out in Manipur. After a video of the same went viral, the police swung into action and arrested seven people, including the main accused.
While the case of Manipur was being heard, a lawyer Bansuri Swaraj raised concerns about crimes against women in Bengal, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh. The Chief Justice emphasized that the violence in Manipur, set amidst communal and sectarian strife, is of an unprecedented nature.
The Chief Justice questioned whether protecting all daughters of India or none at all was the appropriate approach. The survivors’ lawyer requested a Supreme Court-monitored probe, emphasizing the need for confidence in the investigation. The government consented to the Supreme Court’s monitoring of the investigation.
During the proceedings, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, representing the women, highlighted the lack of data on registered cases. The court inquired about the number of crimes against women among approximately 6,000 FIRs but was informed that the data was not currently available. Consequently, the court directed the Centre and Manipur government to provide information on various aspects of the cases.
The Supreme Court acknowledged the severity of offenses against women and expressed its reluctance to entrust the case to the Manipur police. Instead, it stressed the importance of healing measures in the state. The court noted that this was not an isolated incident like the Nirbhaya case but a manifestation of systemic violence.
The Centre sought to transfer the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), but the survivors’ lawyer objected, requesting the formation of a high-powered committee comprising women members from civil society. The court supported the idea of a committee and desired justice to reach the doorstep of victims, advocating a broader mechanism to combat violence against women in Manipur.
Chief Justice DY Chandrachud highlighted that the case of the three women was not an isolated incident and called for a mechanism to ensure justice for all victims. He asked about the number of registered FIRs related to violence against women.
The two women involved in the case filed petitions in the Supreme Court, requesting suo motu action and an impartial inquiry. They sought protection of their identities, a probe led by an independent SIT headed by an IG-rank police officer, the transfer of the trial outside the state, security, and the recording of their statements under Section 164 of the CrPC by the nearest area magistrate.
On July 27, the Centre informed the court that the CBI has taken over the investigation and has registered a seventh one new case in addition to the six cases registered. The incident of parading women naked took place on May 4 in Kangpokpi district. A mob of hundreds paraded two women naked after looting and arson. They were also gang raped. Two of his male relatives were also killed for protesting. On May 18, Manipur police registered a case of kidnapping, gang rape and murder at Nongpok Sekmai police station in Thoubal district. A total of 7 cases have been registered since then. Transferred the case to the CBI, highlighting its “zero tolerance towards any crimes against women.” The Ministry of Home Affairs urged the court to transfer the trial outside Manipur for a time-bound conclusion. So far, seven people have been arrested in connection with the case.